Albon enters GP3 with ART

Former Red Bull and Lotus junior Alex Albon will race for ART Grand Prix in the GP3 Series in 2016.

Albon, 19, switches to GP3 on the heels of a strong rookie campaign in European Formula 3, in which he raced with Signature and claimed five podiums on his way to seventh overall.

Prior to that, the Anglo-Thai racer contested various Formula Renault 2.0 categories, claiming his best overall result of third place in the 2014 Eurocup season.

He did two days of post-season GP3 testing in Abu Dhabi last year, placing 10th and sixth on the timesheets with ART.

"At 19, Alexander already has some good experience of competitive racing because he progressed in some very different championships around Asia and Europe," said ART team boss Sebastien Philippe.

"Throughout his career he has proven that he knew how to adapt quickly and efficiently to a new work environment and that is exactly what he did last December in Abu Dhabi when he tested with ART GP.

"Last year Alexander showed he had talent when it came to fighting his way up through the pack when he raced in the European F3 championship and this is a quality that will serve him well in GP3. He will be a valuable asset for ART Grand Prix as we aim to retain both titles secured in 2015."

In ART, Albon joins the most successful team in GP3's six-year history, the French squad having previously secured three drivers' titles and five teams' championships.

Albon is the third driver confirmed by ART in what is expected to be a four-car line-up, with Honda protege Nirei Fukuzumi and McLaren junior Nyck de Vries having previously confirmed their participation.

It is believed that Charles Leclerc, who took rookie honours in European F3 last year, will also be confirmed at the French team.

"Last year, ART Grand Prix had a stunning season winning both titles and it was clear to me that this was the best place to go," said Albon.

"My test in Abu Dhabi wasn’t bad at all but the car is very different to the one I raced last season. The GP3 car is like a beast in the corners and you have to tame it. I will also have to come to grips with the tyres and that’s quite an exciting challenge in itself.

"I don’t have any real objectives ahead of the new season. I will have to adapt to the new environment and I hope to do the best possible job so that I might be able to climb onto the podium in the second half of the season and maybe get a few wins, why not?"